Quadruple expansion engine



(No Model.)- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

H. SEE.

QUADRUPLE EXPANSION ENGINE.

Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. SEE. I QUADRUPLE EXPANSION ENGINE.

No. 357,968. Patented Feb-15, 1887..

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HORACE SEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., ASSIGNOR OF THREEFOUEIHS TO THE \VILLIAM GRAMP & SONS SHIP AND ENGINE BUILDING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE, AND SAMUEL AROHBOLD, OF WVESTOVER, MD.

QUADRUPLE-EXPANSION ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,968, dated February 15, 1887. Application filed March 16, 1886. Serial No. 195,405. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORACE SEE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsyl- ,5 Vania, have invented an Improvement in Quadruple-Expansion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of compound inclined marine engines which are known as quadruple expansion.

As iswell known, it is desirable in engines of the foregoing class that the length of ports or clearances between each cylinder and its valves should be kept down to a minimum,

and at the same time that the valves of opposite cylinders should be operated from a single eccentric and their piston-rods from a single crank, and also that easy access to the main bearings of the shaft and to the connecting- -;2-rods and cross-heads of all the cylinders should be afforded. Heretofore, however, the or- 1 ganization and relationship of parts has universally been such as to prevent the union of all of the foregoing desirable conditions of 2 construction in an engine of the type in question.

The object of my invention is a construction embracing the foregoing desirable coarrangement and relationship of component parts without augmenting cost of construction or sacrificing simplicity or durability.

Apparatus subserving the foregoing ends of construction and arrangement and embodying a good form of my improvement is represented 3 5 in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification, the particular subjectmatter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 0 an end elevation of an engine embodying my improvements, sight being taken in the direction of the arrow applied below Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the same, the connecting-frame, J, shown in Fig. 1 being, for clearer illustration, omitted; and Fig. 3 is a righthand side elevation of the engine as represented in Fig. 2, for clearer illustration, section being, however, supposed in a central vertical longitudinal plane, so that the entire left-hand half of the engine of said Fig. 2 is not shown, but is supposed removed. Fig. 4

is a side elevational magnified detail, the connecting-frame, J, shown in Fig. 1 being, for clearer illustration, again omitted; and Fig. 5

a top plan view of the single eccentric which 5 I employ to operate the valve-rods of the valves of opposite cylinders. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the steam-connections between the cylinders are, for clearer illustration, omitted, the said connections being of a character universal in quadruple-expansion engines and well understood by constrncters thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the first cylinder, and A its valve-chest; B, the second cylinder, and B its valve-chest; G, the third cylinder, and 0 its valve-chest; and D, the fourth cylinder, and D its valvechest. The said cylinders are, also, respectively designated by the numerals l, 2, 3, and 4.. The said cylinders are consecutively in their order of increasing size, the first cylinder being the smallest, the second larger than the first, but smaller than the third, the third larger than 7 the second, but smaller than the fourth, and the fourth largest of all. The first and second cylinders are with respect to the third and fourth cylinders, respectively, face to face or opposite and correspondingly oppositely inclined. The said several cylinders are respectively supported upon brackets a, b, c, and d, which are disposed at predetermined angles, and which preferably spring from any suitable bed-plate or foundation, E, erected from the keelsons F of the vessel.

J, Fig. 1, is a connecting-frame of any preferred character, for clearer illustration omitted from the other views.

Each valve-chest is disposed upon the outside of the cylinder in connection with which its contained valves operate. Each valvechest is, also, so respectively proportioned and disposed that its valve-rod travels in the same vertical plane as the valve-rod of that valvechest which is its opposite neighbor, and likewise in the plane of that eccentric in connection with which both it and its opposite valverod operate. Thus the valve-rod of the first cylinder plays in the same vertical plane with the valve-rod of the third cylinder, while the valve-rod of the second cylinder plays in the same vertical plane with the valve-rod of the fourth cylinder.

Live steam introduced to the first cylinder is conducted, afterits utilization therein, to the second cylinder, and thereafter to the third and fourth cylinders in succession, after the manner usual in engines of this class. The steam-connections between the cylinders are, as stated, for clearer illustration, omitted, such steanrpipes as are usual in engines of this class, not, however, embodying the special constructions inherent in my present invention, being employed.

G is the main or propeller shaft, journaled in bearings 9, after any preferred manner, mounted upon or framed from the bed-plate. This shaft is provided with two cranks, one of which (designated by the'letter H) has a wrist pin of sufficient breadth to receive the connecting-rods a 0*, respectively, of the first and third cylinders, and the other of which (designated by the letter H) has a wrist-pin of sufficient breadth to receive the connectingrods b d of the second and fourth cylinders. The said shaft is also provided with two eccentrics, one ofwhich (designated by the letter I) is equipped with a strap or yoke, i, to which are connected, preferably after the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the valve-rods a 0 respectively, of the valve-chests of the first and third cylinders, and the other of which (designated by the letter P) is equipped with a strap or yoke, t' to which are connected the valverods 1) d" of the valve-chests of the second and fourth cylinders.

It is of course understood that the connecting-rods of the respective cylinders are pivotally connected with the cross-heads of said cylinders, as is clearly indicated in the drawings, and also that the valve-rods which are attached to the straps of the eccentrics are jointed, as shown, to permit of their combined reciprocation and rotary movement.

A reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, will show that the valve-chests, respectively, ofthe first and third cylinders are so disposed that their valve-rods traverse in the same vertical plane and in the plane of the eccentric in connection with which they operate, and that a similar condition of mounting and movement exists as to the second and fourth valve chests and the valve rods thereof, while it will also show that the first and third cylinders and the second and fourth cylinders are,respeetively, by the pairs stated, so oppositely disposed as to present their respective connecting-rods in adjacent parallel planes, so that the first and third connectingrods are, as explained, attached to the wristpin of the same crank, while the second and fourth connectingrods are attach ed to the wrist-pin of a separate crank. "This relative disposition and arrangement of parts enables me to dispense with the employment of two eccentrics, and to reduce to a minimum the length of ports or clearances between the valvechests and their respective cylinders, and affords an opening or area (shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and designated 0) between the first and second cylinders, through which access may be had to the bearings of the shaft and to the connecting-rods and cross heads of all the cylinders. As is obvious, therefore, I obtain by the said relative disposition and arrangement a union of three advantageous features of construction never before united or capable of union in aquadruple-expansion marine engine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A quadruple-expansion marine engine having four cylinders consecutively in the order of their steam-supply of increasing sizes, having four valve-chests, each of which is disposed upon the outside of its cylinder, and all of which cylinders and valve-chests are so respectively disposed that between the first and second cylinders an opening or area is presented of dimensions sufficient to afford access to the main bearings of the shaft and to the connecting-rods and cross-heads of all the cylinders, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a quadruple-expansion marine engine, of four cylinders consecutively in the order of their steam-supply of increasing sizes, four valve-chests, each of which is disposed upon the outside of its cylinder, and a main shaft provided with two cranks respectively operated by the connecting-rods of the first and third and of the second and fourth cylinders, (said rods operating by adjacent opposite pairsin parallel planes,) and also provided with two eccentrics respectively lying in the planes of and operating the valverods of the first and 'third and of the second and fourth cylinders, substantially as set forth.

The combination, in a quadruple-expansion marine engine, of four cylinders consecu tively in the order of their steam-supply of increasing sizes, four valve -chests, each of which is disposed upon the outside of its cylinder, and all of which cylinders and valvechests are so respectively disposed that between the first and second cylinders an opening or area is presented ofdimensions sufficicnt to afford access to the main bearings of the shaft and tothe connecting-rods and cross- IIO heads of all the cylinders, and a main shaft 7 provided with two cranks respectively operated by the connectingrods of the first and third and of the second and fourth cylinders, (said rods operating by adjacent opposite pairs in parallel planes,) and also provided with two eccentrics respectively lying in the planes of and operating the valve-rods of the first and third and of the second and fourth cylinders, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name upon March 9, A. D. 1886.

HORACE SEE.

In presence of- J. BONSALL TAYLOR, JOHN JoLLEY, Jr. 

